Suspension-bridge



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. T. WILSON.

' SUSPENSION BRIDGE. No. 314,900. Patented Mar. 31, 1885.

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N. PETERS. Pholninhcgmpher, Washmgion, 11c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SOLON THOMAS WILSON, OF ECHO, TEXAS.

SUSPENSION-BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,900, dated March. 31, 1885.

Application filed October 4, 15 .84. (X0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SOLON T. WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Echo, Bell county, Texas, have invented new and useful Improvement-s in Suspension-Bridges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the construction of truss-bridges, and the purpose thereof is to provide a strong and durable structure at the lowest possible expense, which is so simple that, the component parts being supplied,they may be put together by unskilled labor.

The invention consists in the several novel features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1 is a side elevation, the cleats being removed. Fig., 2 is a plan view, the sleepers supporting the rails being removed. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section taken in a plane passing'through the sills from end to end. Fig. 4 is a section taken horizontally beneath the lower ends of the long braces.

' Fig. 5 is a detail view of the diagonal braces.

In the said drawings,the reference'numeral 1 indicates the king-abutment, which enters into the construction of the span, and rests upon a pier or other suitable support. Each king-abutment is composed of two posts, 2 2, connected together by tie-rods 3 and the bars 3,their lower ends resting upon the masonry. Behind each king-abutment is arranged a kingbeam, 4, and the stringers 5 pull from behind each king-beam 4 to the king-beam on the king-post, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter. At suitable intervals in each span are placed king-posts 6, and extending from end to end of the span in the plane of said king-posts are center sills, 7, constructed as follows: Between the contiguous posts are arranged pieces 8, having their ends abutting against said posts or laid in shallow notches formed in the latter. These pieces are substantially rectangular in shape, and are covered inside and outside by iron cleats or strips 9, connected by bolts 10, passing through perforations in the central pieces, 8. Thesecleats are continuous and lie in shallow notches formed in the outer and inner faces of kingposts 6. Beneath the central pieces, 8, of the centersill are arranged braces, the longer pieces, 11, rising diagonally from notches 12in the king-abutment and king-post till their upper ends rest against each other and against the central portion of the sill-piece 8. Short braces 13 are half-mortised upon and rise from the middle portion of the long pieces 11, and the ends of said short braces rest against the contiguous faces of the king-posts or of the king-post and the king-abutment, at the same time giving support to the ends of the sillpieces 8. This system of diagonal bracing is used upon both sides and from end to end of the span. The lower extremities of the braces are inclosed between cleats or strips 14, which are connected by bolts 15, which pass through both the cleats and the lower ends of the braces,

preventing the displacement of the latter. Each pair of king-posts 6 is connected together by a king-beam, 16, having studs 17 formed upon its ends,which penetrate apertures in the posts and receive nuts 18. At their lower extremities also is arranged a tie-bar, 19. Between the king-posts, or the king-posts and king-abutments, are tie-rods 20,penetrating apertures in the sill-pieces 8 and cleats 9 and receiving nuts 21, by which the whole structure is firmly bound together. Longitudinal rods 22 are also employed, passing from end to end of the span through the king-abutments and through the lower ends of the king-posts. Other tierods, 23, may also be used, having a similar arrangement a little above the center sills. Other longitudinal rods, 24, pass through the king-beams 4 on the kingabutments 1. The king-beams are connected together by inside braces having a V shape. The first of these braces, 25, extends from the king-beam on one of the king-posts adjacent to the abutment 1 to the tie-rod 3,which passes through openings in the ends of the brace, the latter being bolted to the king-beam 16 by bolts 26 passing through the central portion of the brace. Bolted to the king-beam upon the abutment is a brace, 25, of similar form, having its diverging sides provided with notches 27 to receive the corresponding parts of the brace 25, which may be similarly notched. The ends of the braces 25 may be provided with openings into which the studs 17 upon the king-beams 16 pass. In this manner all the king-beams are connected by IOO braces of the same dimensions. The kingposts are all connected to each other and to the king-abutments by means of lower sills, 28, which have a diagonal arrangement, as shown in Fig. 4. These sills are penetrated by the tie-bars 19 upon the abutments and the tie-bars 3 upon the lower ends of the kingposts 6, the construction and. arrangement of said parts being shown in Fig. 4.. A second series of V- shaped braces, similar to the braces 25 and 25, is arranged below the series heretofore described. The stringers 5 5 are notched upon the king-beams 4: and l6,and the tie-rods which bind the center sills together pass through apertures in the said stringers.

By my invention I provide an underbrace suspension-bridge having great strength and durability, which is comparatively cheap in cost and so simple in construction that it may be erected by unskilled labor.

The bridge may consist ofa single span or of two or more spans. In the latter case the king-abutments at the end of each span rest upon a pier of masonry or other suitable support.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim is- 1. An under-brace truss-bridge having aseries of king-abutments and intermediate diagonal bracing, consisting of long braces resting in notches in the king-posts and meeting beneath the center of the sill-pieces intermediate of said posts, and short braces half-mortised upon the long braces and resting against the kingposts and the ends of the said sill-pieces, substantially as described.

2. In an under-brace truss-bridge, the combination, with the king-posts, of lower sills connecting the extremities of the posts, said sills being fastened between the posts and the ends of the tie-bars connecting the same, and extending diagonally from side to side of. the bridge, substantially as described.

3. In an under-brace truss-bridge, the combination, with the king-abntments 1, of the kingposts 6, connected by king-beams 16, the side braces composed of the long and short arms 11 and 13, the center sills, 8, and transverse tie-rods, substantially as described.

4. In an under-brace truss bridge, the combination,with the king-posts having connecting king-beams, of inside Vshaped braces bolted upon one beam and having their ends engaging with the studs upon the adjacent beams, substantially as described.

5. In an under-brace truss-bridge, the combination,with the king-abntments 1, having king-beams 4, of the king-posts 6, having kingbeams 16, and the stringers 5, notched upon the king-beams, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affiX mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

SOLON THOMAS WILSON.

IVitnesses:

S. M. RAY, J. Z. MILLER. 

